TORONTO, ON – February 16, 2012 – More than 5,000 emails in one day alone have been sent to President Felipe Calderón of Mexico telling him to stop the blacklisting of Mexican migrant who exercised their fundamental human and labour rights while working Canada.

The deluge of protest emails continue to pour in from around the world after an alert was posted on February 15 by the IUF (International Union of Food, Agricultural, Hotel, Restaurant, Catering, Tobacco and Allied Workers' Association). The IUF is a global union federation of trade unions in the agriculture, food, tobacco, and food service sectors.

The IUF alerted affiliates that Mexico has prevented pro-union Mexican migrant workers from returning to Canada. The IUF has urged affiliates to send an online message from www.ufcw.ca/stoptheblacklist , to tell President Calderón to Stop the Blacklisting and to stop the violation of the human and labour rights of Mexican workers in Canada.

Evidence indicating blacklisting activity by Mexico is currently before a labour tribunal in British Columbia.

Migrant Worker Rights NOW!

Support the international campaign to stop the Mexican government from reaching across Canada's border to violate our labour laws, our Charter, and the human rights of Mexican migrant workers in Canada.

Here are the facts. There are serious allegations that migrant farm workers in British Columbia are being blacklisted for voicing their support for the union and trying to exercise their basic Human Right to organize and bargain collectively.

Charges have been filed with the B.C. Labour Board that the federal government of Mexico and its Vancouver consulate conspired with two British Columbia agriculture operations to blacklist Mexican seasonal migrant workers from returning to Canada this season because they were union sympathizers.

The evidence includes leaked documents that indicate blacklisting activity. The charges were filed by UFCW Canada Local 1518 — the union that migrant workers at Floralia Farms and Sidhu Nurseries voted to join. In addition to the blacklist, the Mexico consulate has also told workers at B.C. farms to stop visiting union-run support centres operated by the Agriculture Workers Alliance.

What does Mexico say to all of this? Mexico and its Vancouver consulate have claimed diplomatic immunity.

But Mexico must listen and you can help. Send a message to Mexico President Enrique Pena Nieto to Stop the Blacklisting of Migrant Workers: